Fire-escape.



Patented Feb. Il, vi902.

T. G. aoonrELLow.

FIRE ESCAPE.

(Application led July 3, 1901.)

(No Model.)

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS` G. GOODFELIOW, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters Patent No. 692,847, dated 11, 1902.

Application tiled July 3|1901v. Serial No. 66,996. (No model.) I

To a/ZZ whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, THoMAsG. GOODFEL- Low, a citizen of the United States, and a resident 0f Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Es capes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

It is usual in factories, hotels, and large business blocks to provide xed structures on the outside of thebuilding for escape in' case of re. These structuresmust necessarily be placed at the ends of corridors or halls,

where they can beA reached by the inmates' from any room in the building. It frequently happens that the halls leading to these lire-A In the drawings, Figure lis a view in ele-V vation of a portion of a building fittedv with devices embodying. the salient features of myV invention, parts of the cornicebeing broken away to give a clear view and the device being shown both in its concealedand in its working position. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing some of the details of the device.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a portion of the wall of a large building, such as a factory or hotel, surrnounted at the top with the usual cornice B.V yThis cornice is of. the usual hollow construction and is made with a pluralityof pockets atregularinter vals along the building, preferably corresponding to the unbroken portions of the wall adjacent to the vertical lines of the windows. These pockmatters heretachably supported on horizontal pivots G,

between two vertical parallel guide-platesrE and E. tures or slots in the innerguide-plates E' into pivot-sockets F in the reels and are secured at their other ends to swivel-plates H, which oscillate horizontally on bolts I', by which they are secured to the frame of the building. Said plates, and consequently said pivot-pins G, are normally held in the position shown in Fig. 2 by a spring I, one end Sof whichv is secured to one of the plates H and the other toA the side of the building. Said plates may be swung so that the pivots are withdrawn from the reels D by means of a chain LLsecured to the plates, which is fastened to a wire. `The latter passes over a fixed pulley K, and thence down the wall to a convenient height above the ground'for operating. As a means of protection from the weather and to prevent molestation to said chain it may be inclosed in a Ypipe secured on the side of the building. Its lower'end is provided with a weight, such as a few feet of chain, which rests on the glass bottom of acase or-box Q, secured to the side of the building.A Said weight is so proportioued in regardto the pull of the spring I as to move the plates, and consequently the pivot-pins G, out of engagement with the reels when it is allowed to. fall. A rope, cord, or

These pivots extend through aper-v wire O is passed over the fixed pulley C, each 1 l At the bottom of the wall under the pockets of `theV cornice areas may be formed, in which "a carr1er P, having a reel of heavier rope secured to its handle, lines of hose, and other suitableapparatus,may be stored, or the regular areas of the building under the windows may be used. A snatch-block Q may be fas? tened to the lower portion of the wall yunder the reel-pockets. `As herein-. shown, the

snatch-blocks are secured fin the area-walls.

the weight R, which falls and trips the swivel.

plates, thereby moving pivots G out Aof the p reel-sockets, and allowing the reels to fall to the ground, uncoiling the rope or cord, so that it hangs in a double line over the lixed pulley C from the cornice to the ground. One end may be passed over the nearest snatchblock and the other end secured to the rope on the reel of a carrier, which latter may be thereby quickly raised and swayed by means of a suitable guy-line to the upper windows of the building, thereby aording easy means of escape; or lines of hose may be quickly run to the top of the building by aid of the rope, and by nozzles turned by hand-lines running to the ground firemen may direct streams at will into the building. A line may be provided for every Window in the building.

It will be understood that the operative parts of the device are made of reproof material. The manner of coiling the rope around the comparatively heavy reels insures its paying out easily, while the weight of the reels is suiiicient to bring the line to the ground regardless of any wind which may be blowing.

The device is wholly concealed Within the cornice when not in use. As the chain conductor may be built in the Wall, it does not mar the lines of the building and affords a ready means of escape Without cumbering the walls or taking up air and light space.

Vhat I claim as new isl. The combination with the cornice of a building of a fixed pulley, secured within said cornice, a cord passing over said fixed pulley, vertical parallel guide-plates within said cornice, reels carrying said cord detachably secured between said guide-plates and means for releasing said reels from said cornice and guide-plates.

2. The combination with the cornice of a building of a fixed pulley, secured within said cornice, a cord passing over said pulley,

parallel vertical guide-plates within said cornice, horizontal pivot-plates pivotally secured within said cornice, reels carrying said cord, detachablysupported by said pivot-plates between said guide-plates,1neans normally holdin g said pivot-plates in engagement with said pulleys, and means for releasing said pivotplates from said reels.

3. The combination with the cornice of a building of a fixed pulley secured within said cornice, a cord passing over said pulley, parallel vertical guide-plates within said cornice, horizontal pivot-plates pivotally secured within said cornice, reels carrying said cord detachably supported by said pivot-plates between said guide-plates, a spring acting by tension to hold said pivot-plates normally in engagement with said reels, and a cord eX- tending from said guide-plates to the ground for moving said pivot-plates out of engagement with said reels.

et. The combination with the cornice of a building of a fixed pulley secured within said cornice, a cord passing over said pulley, parallel vertical guide-plates within said corL nice, horizontal pivot-plates pivotally secured within said cornice, reels carrying said cord detaohablysupported by said pivot-plates, between said guide-plates, a spring acting by tension to hold said pivot-plates normally in engagement with said reels, and a cord 0peratively secured to said pivot-plates and detachably secured to the building, and adapted when released therefrom to throw said pivotplates out of engagement with said reels.

THOMAS G. GOODFELLOVV.

Witnesses:

M. FRIEL, FRANK D.- THoMAsoN. 

